Hello Arsim, thank you very much for taking time for this interview. What is your job at Ludwig Pfeiffer?
Since 2011 I have been employed at the Augsburg branch of Ludwig Pfeiffer Hoch- und Tiefbau. I am a construction equipment operator. A great job that I learned in 2004. I'm excited, because since May 2019 we have a new excavator in Augsburg: a 17 tons with a quick-change system, two cameras and a mounted compactor.
What is so special about this excavator?
I am now even more independent in my work. The excavator makes my work easier and the work is even safer thanks to the two cameras. With the excavator I can now compact on my own. Before, a second man was needed for this work.
With the attached compactor, which is mounted directly on the excavator, even hard-to-reach areas such as ditches or embankments can be worked and compacted thanks to its reach. Due to the high contact pressure and strong compaction forces, better values and results can be achieved compared with conventional compaction equipment.
Oh, I'm not so familiar with construction terms: what exactly does "compacting the soil" mean?
In our case, in pipeline construction, it is important to backfill the pipe trench so that surface restoration, e.g. road construction, can be carried out according to the technical requirements.
This also includes the compaction of the soil: during soil compaction, the solid components of the soil are pushed together closer. This reduces the volume of the cavities, whereby the water and air permeability decreases.
The stability of the soil structure increases and with it the load-bearing capacity. Compaction is usually achieved by vibratory plates, tampers or appropriate soil cultivation.
What do you like about your job? Is it easy to learn?
Machine operator is a very demanding job. You don't just sit on the excavator and drive. Today's excavators are technically well equipped, so you need time to learn how to use them. But it is also a great job that you can learn as a career changer.
I like the variety in my job: I'm out in the fresh air a lot. The tasks are varied, depending on what we are building or renovating: water or sewer pipes or gas lines. Of course, I am even more attentive than usual when we are working on gas pipelines.
Just a few years ago a buddy of mine asked me if I would like to work with him in the factory. I thought about it, but I enjoy working with Ludwig Pfeiffer outside on my excavator more. I can't imagine being inside all day. Here I work on different construction projects and have a great team. I've been here for nine years now and have a great team. But the atmosphere is good not only here on the site but also in the entire Augsburg team.
Has there been a very special construction site over the last nine years?
Actually, I can think of one thing: a few years ago, we were asked to renew a water pipe for the Augsburg public utility company – actually a completely normal job. But then we actually found a water pipe made of wood next to this water pipe. Such pipes for drinking and process water date back to the Middle Ages. This was an exciting find for the Augsburg public utility company.
